Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Fr Brian D’Arcy willing to back gay adoption

One of the country’s best known priests, BBC broadcaster Fr Brian
D’Arcy, has lashed out at the Catholic Church’s teaching on
homosexuality as “gravely lacking and gravely misinformed”.

In an interview published in Hot Press magazine, the priest says
there is a growing willingness in the Church to recognise that “we need
to change our position, to ensure that we do not cause unnecessary
suffering to any person of good will”.

One of the many controversial views he expresses in the interview
which may once again put him on a collision course with the Church
authorities in Rome is his willingness to back gay adoption.

He tells journalist Jason O’Toole that what matters in adoption,
whether same-sex or heterosexual, is making sure the child has the
possibility of “a balanced, good upbringing”.

The 71-year-old Passionist priest says he would have no personal
objection to giving his blessing to same-sex marriages but cannot at
present because the Church doesn’t allow it.

“I do everything I can on a pastoral level to help the couple grow in
their love. But if the Church allowed it, I would be the first in line
to do it for them,” he states.

Indicating that he would also like to preside at second marriages,
the popular priest who is a Sunday World columnist, estimates that 50%
of his congregation are people in second relationships or second
marriages.

In comments likely to disappoint the pro-life movement, Fr D’Arcy
says he believes that the Eighth Amendment, which gives equal right to
life to the unborn and the mother, will be repealed.

The liberal priest refers to the countless conversations he has had
with mothers faced with having to travel to Britain for a termination.

“I have sat with mothers, night after night after night. And I have
always said to mothers, ‘Whatever you choose is the right choice.’ I
always say that to mothers. My own view is that we should try to save
all lives,” he states.

He also backs the proposal to cover repatriation costs in abortion
cases involving babies with life-limiting conditions (fatal foetal
abnormalities), so that the foetus can be brought back to Ireland for
burial from Britain.

“Whatever about the abortion, I have no problem at all having respect
and love and care for the little infant whose life didn’t get a
chance,” he says.

Fr D’Arcy, who has already been the target of a Vatican investigation
over his views on women priests and other thorny issues, describes the
prohibition on women’s ordination as a symptom of the centuries old
disrespect for the vocation of womanhood in the Catholic Church and says
he longs for the day when women will be ordained.

“I actually do believe that women should become priests,” he
comments, describing them as the “backbone of the Church” but having
“absolutely no say”.

“This male, clerical, celibate club known as ‘The Clergy’ is the
ruination of the Church, in my view. It’s not the priesthood – that’s a
different thing. It’s the clerical club, which is this male hierarchical
structure that is 3 percent of the Church and has 93 percent of the
power in the Church.”